END OF AN ERA: Pat Trombetta surveys the action in a 2019 game during his tenure as the head coach of the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team. Trombetta recently announced that he is stepping down from the helm of the program after 14 seasons. Over his time guiding the team, the Panthers went 177-62-19, winning eight state Prep B titles (2008, 2010, 2014-2019) and one Mercer County Tournament crown (2013) along the way. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
In his day job as the chief operating officer for an accounting firm, Pat Trombetta prides himself on his attention to detail and ability to manage people.
When not in the office for the MSPC Certified Public Accountants and Advisors, Trombetta took a break from his world of numbers by indulging in his passion for soccer, guiding a number of club teams in West Windsor and coming to Princeton Day School to start coaching in its middle school program in 2004.
When Trombetta took the helm of the PDS varsity girls’ soccer team in 2007, he applied some accounting principles as he looked to take the program to a higher level.
“I just think that being in the position that I am in from a leadership standpoint helped me in coaching,” said Trombetta.
“There are a lot of things that I do at the corporate level that I actually implement with the soccer team. Organization and planning are two key things that are part of my daily life that I bring to the field.”
Combining his flair for organization and love of soccer, Trombetta transformed PDS into a powerhouse, guiding the program to eight state Prep B championships (2008, 2010, 2014-2019) and a Mercer County Tournament title (2013), the first in program history, over last 14 seasons.
But noting that his job responsibilities have increased through overseeing the firm’s offices in New York and New Jersey, Trombetta announced last month that his run at PDS will be ending as he is stepping down from the program.
“It is just the time commitment, and I am so proud of where this program is today,” said Trombetta, who posted a 177-62-19 record in his PDS tenure.
“I want somebody to have that available time to continue this program and keep it at the level that is at right now. I expect a 110 percent commitment from my players. If I can’t give that in return, I’m not being fair to them. I’m too proud of how this program has developed over these past 14 years to be a top team in the state. I think it is only right that a coach that has the available time outside of the season to continue to lead this group.”
It was not easy for Trombetta to leave PDS. “I struggled with this decision for an extensive period of time,” said Trombetta, noting that he spent a lot of time over the years from December to April meeting with families interested in the program and doing other offseason activities.
“I have been blessed to have a group of players that were committed to excellence. I know I demanded a lot but they responded and bought into a culture of strong work ethic, respect of each other and recognized the importance of team chemistry. I think the results speak for themselves. The outpouring of love I have received from my current players and families after announcing my decision on April 15 has been overwhelming.”
In creating that winning culture, Trombetta was both patient and innovative.
“It is tough from day one to come into a program, they are used to certain systems, practices, and philosophies,” said Trombetta, who credited assistant coaches Howie Powers and Brie Nomejko with having a key role in the program’s success, noting that Powers has been with him since day one of his tenure and that Nomejko came to PDS in 2013.
“Slowly they bought into the coaching that I was trying to instill there. Back then, I wanted to have more accountability with the girls and have a system of play where fitness was important. I implemented a lot of different things. We played in the summer league for the first time. I had a couple of different twists and we started from there.”
By his second season, Trombetta had molded PDS into a champion.
“The first great moment was 2008 when we won the Prep B over Montclair Kimberley, it was my first championship with the program,” recalled Trombetta.
“The game was tied with about 10 seconds left. MKA committed a foul and then stood in front of the ball, not letting us take the free kick so time runs out but the ref puts five seconds on the clock. Erin Cook scores on the free kick to win the game. That was our first big win. It is one of those cherished moments that you remember.”
Trombetta’s most cherished win in all likelihood came when PDS edged Hopewell Valley 2-0 in the 2013 MCT final to earn the program’s first-ever county crown.
“I think the Mercer County championship was huge, the first in school history has to probably be at the top,” said Trombetta.
“A couple of parents had said to me, you are doing alright with the state prep championships but we are never going to be a player in the counties. Just tell me something I can’t do and I will find a way to do it.”
Former PDS Athletic Director Tim Williams, who worked with Trombetta for nine years, was not surprised that Trombetta found a way to keep winning.
“He is great, I was impressed with Pat from the start,” said Williams, who is now the AD at the University School of Milwaukee.
“His level of professionalism was second to none. He made my job a lot easier because he was so well organized. He put together such a good program. With Pat being a CPA, I was always amazed that he could do everything that he did. He has got a big day job and then he comes in and does what he does for us. He did a bunch of offseason stuff too. I don’t know how he found the hours in the day to do it.”
In the view of Williams, Trombetta’s no-nonsense, businesslike approach helped drive his players to do big things.
“He was a master that way, getting the most out of his players,” added Williams.
“He was tough, he was fair, and he made his expectations very clear so the kids really respected that.”
Trombetta did a masterful coaching job this fall, guiding the Panthers to a 10-1 record as they dealt with COVID-19 concerns and restrictions.
“This group that I coached this past year was probably one of my most determined groups that I have ever coached at PDS,” asserted Trombetta, noting that the 2020 campaign was highlighted by a thrilling 2-1 win over defending state Group 4 champion and powerhouse Hunterdon Central in early November.
“The circumstances and the COVID environment and no state championship to play for. Who knows who is going to be at practice or not at practice, the protocols and who knows if your opponent is going to be able to play that day. This group lost their first game of the season 3-2 and didn’t actually play that well and then right from there things started clicking. We were taking it one game at a time because it could be the last game of the season.”
In reflecting on his tenure, Trombetta views the program’s consistent tournament success as a key part of his legacy.
“I am proudest of how we played above and beyond our potential,” he said.
“We were a competitive program. If you look at us from 2013 to today, the achievements that the program made — the Mercer County championship was huge and winning all the prep championships between 2014 and 2019. I would have loved to have competed in the postseason in 2020. That would have been the icing on the cake.”
While Trombetta will be focusing on his day job, he acknowledges that his love for soccer could pull him back into coaching.
“I don’t think I can walk away from the game; I think I still have a lot of coaching left in me,” he said.
“If the right opportunity arises on either the boys’ or girls’ side and doesn’t require a significant commitment outside of August – November, I would give it some consideration. I have a passion for the sport but I think this is the right time to hand it over to someone else at PDS. They have got a pretty decent team and there is a lot of interest in the program.”